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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: JohnW on September 28, 2011, 07:49:48 PM

Title: Can anyone take a quick measurement for me tonight?
Post by: JohnW on September 28, 2011, 07:49:48 PM

My car's 80 miles away and I want to order power wire tonight.  Anyone with a 2.3 that can measure from the stock alternator power connector straight over to the driver's side fender, along the fender and firewall, and to the solenoid post?  I want to make sure I get enough of the 4 awg wire and I don't want to get too much.  Basically planning to run it around the edge of the engine bay.

Title: Re: Can anyone take a quick measurement for me tonight?
Post by: popbumper on September 28, 2011, 10:28:47 PM

I just restored my wiring harness for reinstallation into my car, so I got  a good feel for the length. I would guess 8 feet should be plenty with some excess, it's probably more like 6 but don't get too little. Good luck.
Chris

Title: Re: Can anyone take a quick measurement for me tonight?
Post by: JohnW on September 28, 2011, 10:59:26 PM

I was planning to order 10 feet, just wanted to make sure that wasn't too little.  Thanks.

Title: Re: Can anyone take a quick measurement for me tonight?
Post by: RSM on September 28, 2011, 11:56:50 PM

It's 6' if you measure straight around. 8' would be good to order. You wouldn't happen to need the connector and stuff going to the alternator would you? I just removed all of that since my alternator is now on the other side and I have to rewire it anyways. If you would have posted this 2 days ago I would have removed the entire length and sent to you but I cut the connector off and rerouted the original wire. Let me know.

Title: Re: Can anyone take a quick measurement for me tonight?
Post by: JohnW on September 29, 2011, 08:16:58 AM

No, I'm going to a heavier gauge for the higher amp alternator.  Thanks though.

Title: Re: Can anyone take a quick measurement for me tonight?
Post by: RSM on September 29, 2011, 01:20:40 PM

How big of an alternator are you planning on running?...

Title: Re: Can anyone take a quick measurement for me tonight?
Post by: JohnW on September 29, 2011, 01:33:56 PM

Going to a 100 amp Powermaster.  4 awg is recommended from what I can find.  Not too much more expensive than thinner wiring, and I'd rather go on the safe side.  I'll also have minimal voltage drop and the wiring won't get as hot. 

Title: Re: Can anyone take a quick measurement for me tonight?
Post by: Pinto5.0 on September 29, 2011, 08:31:58 PM

I have a 140 amp Tuff Stuff for the V8 & was only planning to use 4ga. to the solenoid & 2ga. to the trunk mounted battery. I was also going to use 4ga. to the MSD mini starter.
 
I was thinking THAT was overkill. 4ga. for 100 amps seems like mega-overkill to me. I would have thought 6ga. to be plenty. JMO

Title: Re: Can anyone take a quick measurement for me tonight?
Post by: JohnW on September 29, 2011, 08:49:14 PM

From what I can find, like here for example: http://alternatorparts.com/wire_size_chart.htm is that 4 awg is about normal for that amperage.  A little overkill isn't going to hurt anyways.